Endoscopy anesthesia, team perspective

Abstract

Sedation, at the endoscopy room, is a very important step of the procedure. It helps to perform complex therapeutical procedures with better results for patients and helps reduce related adverse effects. A specific team of doctors, such as endoscopists- anesthesiologists, has allowed to perform more and complex advanced therapeutic procedures. However, in most endoscopy centers, anesthesiologists in training (residents) are often not familiarized with sedation in endoscopic procedures that allow the passage of the equipment through the cricopharyngeal muscle, without also causing respiratory depression, and the limitation that they do not have absolute control of the airways. Various drugs are used for endoscopic procedures. However, the patient’s comorbidities must be known, as well as close communication with the endoscopist doctor by the anesthesiologist to use the appropriate drug according to the endoscopic procedure. When anesthesia is not possible in patients, the endoscopist doctor must know techniques to perform high-demand procedures in high-volume centers such as upper endoscopy and colonoscopy with favorable results for the diagnosis and timely treatment of patients.

Keywords

• Anesthesia. Endoscopy. Sedation.